Former Grantham school teacher Chris wins silver medal at indoor rowing Nationals
A retired King's School teacher has returned to a sport he first began at the end of the last century – and with some success.
Former chemistry master Chris Cumbers took up indoor rowing in his late 40s in 1998, but various set-backs meant that he had not competed for the last 15 years.
But now Chris is back in training and he competed at the English National Indoor Rowing Championships at Manchester Velodrome on Sunday.
Contesting the age 70-plus lightweight men under-75kg category, at the standard 2,000m distance, Chris came a very close second to claim the silver medal.
He said: "I'm just pleased to have done so well after such a long lay-off."
Chris trains four times a week at home on his own indoor rowing standard Concept2 rowing machine that he has set up in a garden outbuilding.
At 6ft 4in tall, Chris was a natural for basketball as a youngster and was also a keen track and field athlete.
He said that his height also lends itself to the sport of rowing, as can been by the likes of Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent who are both of about the same stature as Chris.
Chris said: "It's a sport that suits big men."